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Grotto
Joined: 21 Mar 2004
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 Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2004 6:31 pm Post subject: embassies |
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Other than ridiculously priced thanksgiving dinners has anyone ever gotten any use out of the embassy?
I find the hours to be inconveinient, the staff blase' and it be pretty much a waste of taxpayers money.
Any thoughts? |
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Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2004 7:24 pm Post subject: Re: embassies |
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| Grotto wrote: |
| Other than ridiculously priced thanksgiving dinners has anyone ever gotten any use out of the embassy? |
Yes.
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I find the hours to be inconveinient, the staff blase' and it be pretty much a waste of taxpayers money.
Any thoughts? |
Yes. Perhaps I'm mistaken since you didn't mention why you tried to contact/visit 'the embassy' (or even WHICH embassy), but you seem to be ignorant of the primary functions of 'the embassy'. |
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J.B. Clamence
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2004 8:04 pm Post subject: Re: embassies |
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| I have to second Bulsajo here. OP, the primary function of your embassy is the maintenance of diplomatic ties between your country and the host country. Why is it a waste of taxpayers money? Are you saying that your country should break off diplomatic ties to South Korea? Please be more specific -- what do you want out of your embassy that you're not getting? |
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wylde
Joined: 14 Apr 2003
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| Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2004 9:04 pm Post subject: |
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more specific....
total lack of interest in in answering inquiries
total lack of ability to move at a pace faster than a snail
i'm with grotto. they suck for personal assistance and flexability.
the australian embassy for example... it tried to email them for a month.. the mail box was always full and my message was returned. in that same month i called on many occasions only to have the phone ring out..
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| I have to second Bulsajo here. OP, the primary function of your embassy is the maintenance of diplomatic ties between your country and the host country. Why is it a waste of taxpayers money? Are you saying that your country should break off diplomatic ties to South Korea? Please be more specific -- what do you want out of your embassy that you're not getting? |
primary fuction yes. only function..... no. |
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J.B. Clamence
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2004 9:21 pm Post subject: |
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| wylde wrote: |
| primary fuction yes. only function..... no. |
I understand that. However, the OP stated that his embassy was "a waste of taxpayers money", which of course implies that, having bad 'customer service', it serves no worthy purpose. I was simply trying to remind him that it's main purpose was not customer service. Therefore, how can it be "a waste of taxpayer's money" just for that?
You're right: Embassies are not generally very good at dealing with ordinary citizens (although I've heard that embassies of smaller nations are much better at this). On the other hand, I think that there are some people out there who have distorted ideas about what their embassy should do for them, which leads me to be a little cynical when I hear these types of complaints. |
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wylde
Joined: 14 Apr 2003
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| Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2004 10:21 pm Post subject: |
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agreed
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| I think that there are some people out there who have distorted ideas about what their embassy should do for them |
very true however, they should answer the bloody phone and email. |
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Kristsoy
Joined: 23 Mar 2004
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| Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2004 1:16 am Post subject: and |
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| canadian embassy is terrible too |
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matthews_world
Joined: 15 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2004 1:52 am Post subject: |
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I used the U.S. embassy in Seoul to renew my passport. Very useful.
They don't have anyone to take passport photos there so make sure you have the right size.
Knowing what form to fill out can be a little perplexing.
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Grotto
Joined: 21 Mar 2004
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| Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2004 3:28 am Post subject: Canadian embassy |
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The embassy I was referring to is the Canadain embassy
I just find that any information I have requested takes a week or so to get replied to. and then the information I get is not complete.
example:passport renewel, visa information, medical information(places with english speaking doctors and places to get general medical information)
I live a considerable distance from Seoul and it takes about 5 hours to get to Seoul then a little more time to get to the embassy.
When I got there it was closed......I got there during its listed business hours but for some inexplicable reason it was locked up tight. |
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Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2004 8:07 am Post subject: |
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List of Services here:
http://korea.gc.ca/consularservice/consularservice.e.html
If the service you seek isn't listed they recommend sending them a message here (and this is also a feedback form so you can also lodge your complaints using this link):
http://korea.gc.ca/consularservice/ConsularQuery.e.html
But you already knew that, right?
You checked the website before travelling for 5 hours to another city, right?
You didn't happen to go there on Friday, did you?
The Embassy was closed on Good Friday (statutory Cdn holiday; The Cdn Embassy is closed on both Korean and Cdn holidays). |
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mishlert
Joined: 13 Mar 2003
Location: On the 3rd rock from the sun
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| Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2004 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Before going to your embassy, go to its web sight and find out exactly what you need. The American Embassy in Seoul has a good sight telling you what you need, and downloadable forms; very convenient and time saving. |
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komtengi
Joined: 30 Sep 2003
Location: Slummin it up in Haebangchon
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| Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2004 6:52 pm Post subject: |
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Ive had the Australian embassy help me out of a few tight situations before and they were great. Definately went out of their way to help their fellow countrymen.
Wylde... why dont you try calling them, instead of just emailling them. The Aust embassy is really bad when dealing with visas, cause you have to go through Koreans. Other problems are dealt with really well IMHO |
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the saint
Joined: 09 Dec 2003
Location: not there yet...
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| Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2004 8:41 pm Post subject: |
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Cheap bar, free tennis court and free swimming pool in the summer and an evening with the Ambassador last month.
Perks of the job... |
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wylde
Joined: 14 Apr 2003
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| Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 4:34 am Post subject: |
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| komtengi wrote: |
| Wylde... why dont you try calling them, instead of just emailling them. The Aust embassy is really bad when dealing with visas, cause you have to go through Koreans. Other problems are dealt with really well IMHO |
| wylde wrote: |
| the australian embassy for example... it tried to email them for a month.. the mail box was always full and my message was returned. in that same month i called on many occasions only to have the phone ring out... |
i did bro.. it was for visa information to go to china.. i don't know if they were the right people to contact or not and i still don't.. in the end i just gave up and went to japan  |
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komtengi
Joined: 30 Sep 2003
Location: Slummin it up in Haebangchon
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| Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 7:38 am Post subject: |
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sorry missed that part.... 
yeah they are shit when it comes to visas... try www.lonelyplanet.com for visas. And I think there is a section on the Foreign Affairs page about visas |
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